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Dept. of Transport Issue Covid-19 Guidance Measures Among them Maritime Transport Sector

27th March 2020
Óglaigh na hÉireann personnel collecting medical supplies for delivery to Irish Hospitals, supporting the HSE in the fight against COVID-19. AFLOAT adds the Irish Army truck is seen with a shipping container trailer at a port's lo-lo container terminal.  Óglaigh na hÉireann personnel collecting medical supplies for delivery to Irish Hospitals, supporting the HSE in the fight against COVID-19. AFLOAT adds the Irish Army truck is seen with a shipping container trailer at a port's lo-lo container terminal. Credit: Irish Defence Forces -twitter

The Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport (DTTAS) has issued transport related measures (incl. Maritime) currently in place in response to Covid-19 which are set out below.

DTTAS added given that this is a rapidly evolving situation this page (click HERE) will be updated as required.

As for the central online Government hub to view the latest information on how Ireland is responding to cases of Covid-19.

Among the guidlines are detailed below concerning the Maritime Transport sector and those associated from hauliers using Irish Ports, their dockers and staff etc. 

Maritime Measures 

Cruise ship travel

All scheduled cruise ship travel has ceased. The National Health and Emergency Planning Team agreed that no cruise ship will be permitted to enter any Irish port or anchor in Irish waters.

Marine Notice No.6 of 2020 COVID-19 (2019nCoV) - Maritime Declarations of Health
This Marine Notice communicates instructions from the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the submission of Maritime Declarations of Health.

Marine Notice No.14 of 2020 Temporary Contingency Planning for Certification of Seafarers - COVID-19

This Marine Notice sets out the temporary measures being put in place in relation to the validity of seafarers’ documents impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic: to extend the validity of Irish seafarer certifications (by 6 months) and Irish flagged vessels (by 3 months) which remove administrative issues for those seafarers and vessels requiring renewal over the coming 3 months.

Marine Notice 15 of 2020 Temporary Contingency Planning for the Surveying and Certification of Irish Registered Ships –COVID-19

This Marine Notice sets out temporary contingency measures put in place to extend the validity of ship certificates where a survey cannot be carried out in advance of the expiration of the certificate. This includes provision for intermediate surveys and inspections.

For much more information as alluded above, consult the Gov.ie website HERE In addition the Dept. of Agriculture, Food & Marine (homepage) web here.

Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Coronavirus (COVID-19): Irish Sailing & Boating

Since restrictions began in March 2020, the Government is preparing for a 'controlled and gradual return to sport' and the 2020 sailing fixtures are being tentatively redrafted by yacht clubs, rowing clubs angling and diving clubs across Ireland as the country enters a new phase in dealing with the Coronavirus. The hope is that a COVID-19 restrictions might be eased by May 5th as Sport Ireland has asked national governing bodies for information on the challenges they face. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.

To help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) everyone has been asked to stay at home. But some people may need to do more than this.

You may need to either:

You do these things to stop other people from getting coronavirus.

Read advice for people in at-risk groups

Read advice about cocooning.

Restricted movements

Everybody in Ireland has been asked to stay at home. You should only go out for a few reasons, such as shopping for food.

But you need to restrict your movements further if you: 

  • live with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus, but you feel well
  • are a close contact of a confirmed case of coronavirus
  • have returned to Ireland from another country

You need to restrict your movements for at least 14 days.

But if the person you live with has had a test and it is negative, you don't need to wait 14 days. You should still follow the advice for everyone - stay at home as much as possible.

Close contact

This is only a guide but close contact can mean:

  • spending more than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact within 2 metres of an infected person
  • living in the same house or shared accommodation as an infected person

How to restrict your movements 

Follow the advice for everybody - stay at home.